elizabeth higgins



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

'ELIZABETH HIGGINS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO HENRY HIGGINS, OF SAME PLACE.

-DREss-PRoTECToR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 36,125, dated August 5, 1862.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH HIGGINS, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a Water-Proof Dress-Protector, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadr to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figurel is a view ofthe article; Fig. 2,a diagram showing the form in which the material is Cut before making it up.

My present invention consists in an article of dress for infants to protect their clothes and the dresses of those who nurse them, the same being a pair of short breeches made of some suitable material-such as thin indiarubber cloth or oiled silk-through which water will not readily pass, the. waistband being gathered in and attached to an elastic band which holds them up, while the ends of the legs of the breeches are made to iit close to the thigh of the wearer by elastic bands applied thereto.

It is desirable that as few seams as possible should be Amade in the garment, particularly in the seat part of it. I have therefore adopted the following construction: A sheet of rubber cloth (or other material) is cut into the form of the diagram, Fig. 2, and ofthe proper size. A slit is cut from a to b. The piece is then folded up to bring the edge c up to and overlapping the edge d and the edge e over the edge f, where they are strongly cemented together if the article is rubber, or they may be stitched. When thus joinedLthe edge gforms the end of one leg and the edge h the end of the other leg, A A of Fig. 1, to which are stitched the elastic bands t', the fullness of the material being properly gathered around the band. These bands fit sufficiently close to the childs thighs to prevent Water from running over its own clothes or the dress of its nurse, and if the bands are not tight enough or become stretched they may be tightened up by strings m. The waistband is formed by the edges Z n n', which are gathered into the elastic waistband p, and gives sufficient fullness to the seat. Stringsia may tighten the waistband in the usual manner. I prefer to use rubber cloth for this garment, and to introduce eyelets s in the seam down each leg for the purpose of affording ventilation. These breeches should be made large enough for the infant to Wear the ordinary diaper under them. A larger size will be found convenient for some invalids.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, as a new article of manufacture, is-

The dress-protecting breeches constructed as described.

` ELIZABETH HIGGINS. Witnesses:

Taos. R. Roncrr, l?. ETESCHEMACIIER, 

